Plant Systematics - BIO 350
Tentative Sequence of Major Lecture Topics

2008

I. The Nature of Plant Systematics (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 in Walters)
    A. Vernacular vs. Scientific Nomenclature
    B. Natural vs. Artificial Classification
    C. History of Plant Systematics
    D. An Overview of Nomenclature
        1. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Rules)
        2. Taxonomic Hierarchies
        3. Phylogeny
    E. Plant Collection, Identification and Preservation
    F. Selected Literature of Plant Systematics
II. Plant Characteristics - Anatomy and Morphology Important to Plant Systematics (Chapter 7 in Woodland)
    A. Flower and Inflorescence
    B. Fruits and Seeds
    C. Stems
    D. Leaves
    E. Roots
    F. Color and Surface
III. Higher Taxa
IV. Angiosperms (Anthophyta)

Live specimens and/or slides, computer images, herbarium specimens, study mounts will be used to demonstrate the following taxa. (A few of the taxa will be covered on Exam I but most will be covered on exam II and the final exam.)

Division: Anthophyta "flowering plants"
    Class: Liliopsida (Monocots)
        Subclass: Liliidae
            Order: Liliales
                Family: Liliaceae "lilies"
                Family:  Iridaceae "irises"
            Order: Orchales
                Family: Orchidaceae "orchids"
        Subclass: Commelinidae
            Order: Commelinales
                Family: Commelinaceae "spiderworts"
            Order: Cyperales
                Family: Cyperaceae "sedges"
                Family: Poaceae "grasses" (Gramineae)

***Exam 1***

    Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
        Subclass: Magnoliidae
            Order: Magnoliales
                Family: Magnoliaceae
            Order: Ranunculales
                Family: Ranunculaceae "buttercups"
        Subclass: Asteriidae
            Order: Gentinales
                Family: Apocynaceae "dogbanes"
                Family: Asclepidaceae "milkweeds"
            Order: Asterales
                Family: Asteraceae "sunflowers" (Compositae)
            Order: Solanales
                Family: Solanaceae "nightshades"
                Family: Convolvulaceae "bindweeds"
                Family: Polemoniaceae "phlox"
            Order: Lamiales
                Family: Laminaceae "mints" (Labiatae)
                Family: Verbeniaceae "vervains"
            Order: Plantagiales
                Family: Plantaginaceae "plantains"
            Order: Scrophulariales
                Family: Scrophulariaceae
                Family: Oleaceae "olives and ashes"
                Family: Bignoniaceae "trumpet creepers"
            Order: Dipsacales
                Family: Caprifoliaceae "honeysuckles"
        Subclass: Hamamelidae
            Order: Urticales
                Family: Urticaceae "nettles"
                Family: Ulmaceae "elms"
                Family: Moraceae "mulberries"
            Order: Juglandales
                Family: Juglandaceae "walnuts"
            Order: Fagales
                Family: Fagaceae "oaks and beeches"
        Subclass: Rosidae
            Order: Roales
                Family: Rosaceae "roses"
                Family: Saxifagaceae "gooseberries"
            Order: Fabales
                Family:  Fabaceae "peas" (Leguminosae)
            Order: Myrtales
                Family: Onagraceae "evening primroses"
            Order: Cornales
                Family: Cornaceae "dogwoods"
            Order: Euphorbiales
                Family: Euphorbiaceae "euphorbes"
            Order: Rhamales
                Family: Vitaceae "grapes"
            Order: Sapindales
                Family: Araceae "maples"
                Family: Anacardiaceae "cashews"
            Order: Geraniales
                Family: Oxalidaceae "wood sorrels"
            Order: Apiales
                Family: Apiaceae "parsley" (Umbelliferae)
            Order: Malvales
                Family: Malvaceae "mallows"
        Subclass: Dillenidae
            Order: Violiales
                Family: Violiaceae "violets"
            Order: Cucurbitales
                Family: Cucurbitaceae "gourds"
            Order: Salicales
                Family: Brassicaceae "mustards" (Cruciferae)
            Order: Ericales
                Family: Monotropaceae "Indian pipes"

Chapters 6 and 8 in Walters.

*** EXAM II ***

        Subclass: Caryophyllidae
            Order: Caryophyllales
                Family: Caryophyllaceae "pinks"
                Family: Cactaceae "cactuses"
                Family: Chenopodiaceae "goosefoots"
                Family: Amaranthaceae "pigweeds"
            Order: Polygonales
                Family: Polygonaceae "smartweeds"
V. Some Local Plant Associations
VI. Plant Evolution (Phylogeny) (Chapters 12 and 13 in Woodland)
    A. The Concept of Evolution
        1. Lamarck
        2. Darwin
        3. Others
    B. Sources of Taxonomic Evidences for the Establishment of Phylogenetic Lines
        1. Character Variation
        2. Embryology and Development
        3. Geographic Distribution
        4. Artificial Selection
        5. Genetics and Cytology
        6. Biochemistry - Proteins and DNA
        7. Cladistic Classification
        8. Others
    C. Types of Evolution
    D. Speciation
    E. Revisions and Monographs
VII. Edible, Medicinal and Poisonous Plants

*** FINAL EXAM **